Dangerous dog laws and breed specific legislation.

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The AVA made a submission to the Queensland Government consultation on proposed changes to dog laws in the state. While there are some parts of the reform that the AVA supports, it raises the idea that breed specific legislation (BSL) is a solution. The AVA is a strong and long-time critic of BSL approaches.

In 2012 the AVA published a comprehensive report (Dangerous Dogs – A Sensible Solution) into the management of dog aggression in the community. The report is as relevant today as it was then and underpins much of the AVA submission on the review of the Queensland Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.

The report sets out the facts about dog bites in Australia, along with a detailed critique of breed-specific legislation that bans particular breeds of dog perceived to be more inclined to be aggressive.

The AVA, along with the national veterinary associations of Britain, the United States and Canada, recognise that breed-specific approaches to dog regulation are not effective, as they don’t protect the public by reducing dog bite incidents.

Dog bites are the result of a complex behaviour caused by the interaction of many factors. While regulation is an important foundation, an effective policy response to reduce dog bites must also include:

  • Identification and registration of all dogs.
  • A national reporting system with mandatory reporting of all dog bite incidents to the national database.
  • Comprehensive education programs for children, parents, pet owners and dog breeders.
  • Enforcement of all dog management regulations.
  • Temperament testing to understand the risks and needs of individual animals to help owners make more appropriate choices for their new pets, and to guide breeders to improve the temperament of puppies.

Resourcing is often a major barrier to effective enforcement. This problem needs to be addressed to achieve tangible reductions in dog bite incidents.

We are advocating for a legislative approach based on identifying individual potentially dangerous animals and giving local government authorities the power to intervene before they inflict harm.

This is the message that we are delivering to the Queensland Government and is also the message that we have delivered in every state and territory when these issues arise. In 2011, Victoria introduced bans of ‘pit-bull’ type dogs. This was part of the AVA’s motivation for the 2012 report.

The AVA and RSPCA were strong advocates to get the Victorian legislation repealed and a Parliamentary Committee conducted an inquiry. The Inquiry found that,

“... that Victoria’s current system of identifying and dealing with restricted‑breed dogs is not working.” [1]

The Committee also found that,

“…there is insufficient and sometimes contradictory evidence on whether Pit Bulls (however identified) pose a greater risk to public safety than other breeds.”[2]

Ultimately the evidence base for the legislation was found to be lacking and the legislation itself was very difficult to implement. In a victory for the AVA’s evidence-based approach, the Victorian breed specific legislation was repealed in 2017.

This is an issue that is raised regularly in different states and territories. It will, no doubt, raise its head again elsewhere. In Queensland, the consultation closed last week. We now await the review report and the Government’s decision.

[1] https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/inquiries/inquiry-into-the-legislative-and-regulatory-framework-relating-to-restricted-breed-dogs/reports

[2] https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/inquiries/inquiry-into-the-legislative-and-regulatory-framework-relating-to-restricted-breed-dogs/reports